Hatch cover linkage



5 Sheets-Sheet l w. HAMILTON HATCH COVER LINKAGE Oct. 25, 1966 Filed Feb. 2o, 1964 ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1966 w. HAMILTON HATCH COVER LINKAGE Filed Feb. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 44 o j O /l O ,f I wm f .I y l l l' 'l `11: irrid FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

WALLACE HAMILTON Oct. 25, 1966 w. HAMILTON HATCH COVER LINKAGE 5 Sheetsheet 5 Filed Feb. 20, 1964 FIG.

FIG. 4

INVENTOR,

WALLACE HAMILTON United States Patent O 3,280,892 HATCH CVER LINKAGE Wallace Hamilton, Bentleyville, Ohio, assignor to Pneumo Dynamics Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 346,152 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-206) The :present invention relates, as indicated, to a hatch cover linkage, and more particularly to an improved linkage interconnecting an articulated hatch cover panel assembly lto the ship deck which permits the use of uniform sized panels movable from an aligned position covering the hatchway to `an open or stowed position completely uncovering such hatchway.

In present commercially available articulated hatch cover panel assemblies, the end or outboard panel, generally through tarms fixed thereto at the end and toward each side thereof, is normal-ly directly pivotally connected to hinges fixed to the deck or coaming for permitting rotation of the outboard panel thereabout, Such iixed arm and hinge larrangements affect the stowed or open position of the panels relative to the hatchway in either of two ways. If the tixed arms are relatively short, the lateral outward movement of the outboard panel relative to the fixed hinges is correspondingly limited with the undesirable consequence of such limited movement being that the inboard panels of the articulated panel assembly overhang the hatchway thereby partially covering covering the same. In order completely to uncover the hatchway, it has been tfound necessary to provide relatively long arms fixed to the outer end of the outboard panel of the articulated assembly, the larms similarly being pivotally mounted to the fixed hinges. This latter arrangement has necessitated reducing the width of the outboard panel to compensate for the relatively long fixed arms in order to accommodate lateral movement of the articulated assembly to the stowed position uncovering the hatchway. The making of the outboard panel of a lesser width compared to the other panels is obviously undesirable from a fabrication standpoint `and is further objectionable due to the fact that generally the actuating mechanism disposed within the outboard panel has unalterable space requirements.

With the above in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an articulated hatch cover assembly comprising individual panels of uniform size and wherein such assembly is laterally movable to a stowed position completely uncovering the hatchway.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel linkage interconnecting the loutboard panel and fixed deck hinges for permitting such complete uncovering of the hatchway.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a linkage which is characterized by its simple and economical construction and the relatively slight frictional forces attending pivotal movement thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel linkage permitting initial panel folding with substantially reduced scrubbing of the seals operatively disposed between the hatch cover land the coaming for sealing the hatch cover when closed.

These and other `objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but :a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

ICC

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hatch cover panel assembly embodying the present invention, with the assembly being shown in a closed position covering the hatchway;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View similar to FIG. l showing, however, the panel assembly in its stowed or open lposition completely uncovering the hatchway;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the hatch cover panel `assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. l.

Referring now .in more detail to the drawings, wherein like parts have been designated by like reference characters, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ship deck 10 is provided with the usual hatchway 12 which provides in the usual manner .an opening in the ship deck through which cargo can be lowered and removed. Coaming structure generally indicated :at 14 is provided around the hatchway and projects upwardly from the deck 10, the coaming comprising a plurality of transverse coaming stiffeners commonly designated at 16 which support coaming tracks 18 and 20 disposed at opposite sides of the hatchway. It will be understood that the transverse coaming stitfeners 16 do not extend into the hatchway so as to impair cargo movement therethrough. A transverse- -ly extending channel beam 22 is rigidly secured to the adjacently disposed cola-ming stiffeners 16 and the coaming tracks 18 and 20 and extends between the latter for reinforcing the coaming structure.

A hatch -cover panel assembly generally indicated at 24 is supported by the coaming tracks 18 and 20, the panel assembly being constructed 'and arranged for rolling movement along the tracks by roller means -as will be hereinafter related. In the for-m shown, the hatch cover panel assembly 24 comprises a plurality of individual, hinged panels 26, 28, 30 and 32, with the panels being shown in their horizontally aligned, closed position in FIG. l, 'and in their open or stowed position in FIG. 2. It should be understood that the panel assembly in the form shown is merely exemplary of the type of panel assembly with which the novel linkage of the present invention can be advantageously employed, with the number of individual panels being obviously variable to include fewer or more vthan the number illustrated.

To permit folding of the panels between their closed vand open positions, the panels are hinged adjacent either `their top or bottom edges relative to the adjacently disposed panels, in the manner clearly illustrated in FIG. 2.

To facilitate movement of the panels along the tracks 18 Iand 20, the inboard panel 32 is provided at the sides there of with rollers 34 :and 36, FIG. 3, engageable with the Vcoaming Itracks 18 and 20', respectively. Truck assem- -blies generally designated at 38 and 40 are pivotally connected to the adjacently disposed ends of panels 28 and 30 at opposite sides thereof, and each of the 4truck assemblies, lreferring to truck assembly 38, is provided with a pair of rollers commonly designated at 42 which engage the coaming tracks for controlled rolling movement of the hatch cover `assembly therealong.

In the form shown, hydraulic actuating mechanisms generally indicated at 44 are disposed within the panels and are suitably connected to a sour-ce of fluid supply for actuating the panels. It will be apparent, however, that any suitable means can be employed for such panel actuation. The truck assemblies 38 and 40 and the actuating -rnechanisms 44 clearly form no part of the instant invention and have been described only in sufficient detail to aiord a clear understanding of the present invention.

A plurality of coaming seals are provided disposed between the hatch cover panels and the coaming for sealing the hatch when the panels are in their closed position.

3 One such seal 46 has been illustrated in the drawings, being carried by a seal ange 48 connected to the panel 26 through web 50. It will be understood that similar seals are provided with the hatch cover for engagement with the coaming along both sides and at the opposite end thereof.

Referring now to the n-ovel linkage means for controlling the lateral movement of the panel assembly away from the hatch opening during panel folding, the outer end of the outboard panel 26 has rigidly secured thereto relatively adjacent the sides thereof a pair of hinge arms 52 and 54. As readily seen in FIGS. l and 2, the opposite ends of the arms 52 and 54 are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and extend substantially below the coaming tracks 18 .and 20. A pair of Arollers 56 and 58 are joumalled one on each of the arms 52 and 54, and are supported by track sections 60 and 62 which may comprise continuous extensions of the coaming tracks 18 and 20, but which, in the form shown, comprise separate track sections inwardly spaced from the main coaming tracks 18 and 20, as clearly shown 4in FIG. 3. The Irollers 56 and 58 thus serve to support the outboard end of the panel 26 during all positions of lateral and pivotal movement thereof. A pair of inclined ramp-like members 64 and 66 are secured respectively to each of the coaming track sections 60 and 62 adjacent the outer ends thereof for aiding in the initial closing movement of the panels.

A pair of fixed hinge blocks generally indicated at 68 and 70 are rigidly secured to the deck 10. Both of the hinge blocks 68 and 70 are identically constructed and, referring primarily to FIG. 4, the hinge block 68 comprises an inverted U-shaped channel member 72 mounted on the deck 10. A generally T-shaped member 74 having an upwardly extending tongue portion 76 is bolted to the base of the channel 72 through nut and bolt connections commonly designated at 78. In the form shown a spacing plate 80 is disposed between the hinge member 74 and the base of the channel 72.

A pair of generally H-shaped connecting links generally indicated at 82 and 84 are provided each disposed respectively between the fixed hinge blocks 68 and 70 and the lower end portions of the Iarms 52 and 54. The connecting links 82 and 84 are identically constructed, and connecting link 82, for example, referring to FIG. 4, comprises a central web section 86 interconnecting side plates 88 and 90. The side plates 88 and 90 adjacent the lower portions thereof are formed With aligned openings 92 and 94, respectively, for receiving pivot pin 96. The tongue 76 of the hinge member 74 extends into the opening dened by the side plates 88 and 90 and the tongue 76 is similarly formed with an opening 98 for receiving the pivot pin 96, a self-lubricating bearing 100 being disposed around pin 96 within the opening 98.

The upper portion of the connecting link 82 is similarly arranged, a pair of aligned openings 102 and 104 being formed in the upper portions of the side plates 88 and 90 to receive therethrough pivot pin 106. The lower portion of the arm 52 is formed with an opening 108 for receiving the pin 106, a self-lubricating bearing I110 being y disposed in the opening 108 around thepin 106. It will be understood that the lower portion of the arm 54 at the opposite side of the outboard panel is interconnected with the hinge block 70 in precisely the same manner.

Referring now to the operation of the described structure, the position of the connecting links 82 and 84 when the panel assembly is in a closed position covering the hatchway is shown in FIG. 1. Upon actuation of the actuating mechanisms 44, the panels 26, 28, 30 and 32 Will be folded in the usual manner and such actuation will simultaneously produce lateral rolling movement of the panel assembly along the coaming tracks in a direction away from the hatchway or to the left, as viewed in FIG. l. Such lateral movement is guided by the rollers 34, 36, 56 and 58 mounted at the side of the hatch cover, and the outboard panel 26 is supported and guidedY at the outer end thereof by the rollers 56 and 58. As the outboard panel 26 moves during folding from its horizontal, FIG. l position, toward its vertical, FIG. 2 position, the arms 52 and 54 will likewise be reoriented relative to their FIG. 1 position, moving in a counterclockwise direction about their pivotal connections with the links 82 and 84. As the Ioutboard panel 26 -is folded and moves simultaneously laterally outwardly, the lower portions of the arms 52 and 54 will move downwardly relative to the fixed hinge blocks 68 and 70 thereby effecting clockwise movement of the connecting links 82 and 84 about their pivotal connections with the hinge blocks 68 and 70. The arc through which the connecting links 82 and 84 move about their pivotal connections With the hinge blocks 68 and 70 is indicated both in FIGS. 1 and 2 by means of dashed lines.

As will be apparent, the lower rotative position of the connecting links 82 and 84 about their pivotal axes will be effected when the rollers 56 and 58 are substantially vertically above the pivotal connections between the arms 52 and 54 and the connecting links, at which position the arms effect maximum vertical displacement. As the panel assembly continues to travel outwardly away from the hatchway and the rollers 56 and 58 travel beyond the noted pivotal connections, the -connecting links 82 and 84 will pivot counterclockwise or upwardly, as viewed in FIGS. l land 2, about their pivotal connections with the hinge blocks 68 and 70 and will eventually assume the position indicated in FIG. 2 when the panel assembly is in la completely folded position. In the latter such position it will be seen that the inboard panel 32 is disposed completely outwardly of the hatchway 12 thereby completely to expose the same for unimpaired movement of cargo therethrough. The panel assembly can be maintained in its folded position by any suitable means.

During the return movement of the panel assembly from its folded, FIG. 2 position to its closed, FIG. l position, the movement of the arms 52 and 54 and the connecting links 82 and 84 relative to the xed hinge blocks is substantially the reverse of that previously described during the folding movement of the panel assembly. The connecting links 82 and 84 will thus move through the rotative arc indicated and will, when the panel assembly reaches its closed position, reassume their FIG. 1 orientation relative to the arms 52 and 54. The initial closing movement of the panel assembly, as above noted, is aided by the inclined members 64 and 66 down which the rollers 56 and 58 move during initial panel movement.

It will be noted that the described linkage arrangement permits unconned, substantially vertical movement of the lower ends of the arms l52 and 54 during the initial stages of panel folding and simultaneous lateral movement whereby the folding of the panels is attended by a minimum of scrubbing of the coaming seals.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel linkage arrangement by means of which each panel of the panel assembly can be of uniform size thereby eliminating fabrication of varying size panels, and wherein the panel assembly comprised of such uniform sized panels can be moved during the folding operation to a position completely exposing the hatchway thereby not to impair movement of cargo therethrough. The linkage is, moreover, extremely simple and is provided with self-lubricating bearings at the pivotal connections thereof with the fixed hinge blocks and the arms of the outboard panel thereby to eliminate the need for constant lubrication and maintenance.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A hatch cover panel assembly for a hatchway formed in the deck of a ship, comprising a plurality of articulated panels supported by and movable on coaming ltrack means above said deck, said panel assembly being movable between a closed position covering said hatchway and a folded, open position completely uncovering said hatchway, means for folding said panels, arm means mounted on the outboard panel of said panel assembly at the outer end thereof, lthe opposite end of said arm means extending downwardly approximately midway -between said coaming track means and said deck when said outboard panel is in a horizontal, closed position, hinge means mounted on said deck laterally outwardly of said outboard panel and said arm means when said panel is in said horizontal, closed position, and link means pivotally connected at one end to said hinge means and at i-ts other end to said opposite end of said arm means, the arrangement being such as to permit the lateral movement of said panel assembly during folding thereof partially laterally outwardly relative to a ve-rtical plane through said pivotal connection of said link means to said hinge means to completely uncover said hatchway.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the pivotal connection between said arm means and said link means is spaced slightly above and laterally inward from the pivotal connection between said link means and said hinge means when said :outboard panel is in a horizontal, closed position, the movement of said opposite end of said arm means being generally vertically downward during initial folding of said panel assembly thereby to minimize scrubbing of the coaming seal carried by said outboard panel.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said link means during panel folding moves .rst clockwise about its pivotal connec-tion with said hinge means and during the latter stages :of panel folding moves counterclockwise about such connection, with said link means being approximately in the same position when said panels are in either a folded or unfolded position.

4. A hatch cover panel assembly for a hatchway formed in the deck of a ship, comprising a plurality of articulated panels supported by and movable on coaming track means above said deck, said panel assembly being movable between a closed position covering said hatchway and a folded, open position completely uncovering said hatchway, means for folding said panels, arm means mounted on the outboard panel of said panel assembly at the outer end thereof, roller means carried by said arrn means and engaging said coaming -track means for controlling movement of said panel assembly therealong, the opposite end of said arm means extending downwardly approximately midway between said coaming track means and said deck when said outboard panel is in a horizontal, closed position, hinge means mounted on said deck laterally outwardly of said outboard panel and said arm means when said panel is in said horizontal, closed position, and link means pivotally connected at one end to said hinge means and at its other end to said opposite end of said arm means, said pivotal connection between said arm means and said link means being spaced slightly above and laterally inward from the pivotal connection between said link means and said Ihinge means when said outboard panel is in a horizontal, closed position, the arrangement being such as to permit the lateral movement of said panel assembly during folding thereof partially laterally outwardly relative to a vertical plane through said pivotal connection of said link means `to said hinge means to completely uncover said hatchway.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said link means during panel folding moves rst clockwise about its pivotal connection With said hinge means and during the latter stages of panel folding moves counterclockwise about such connection, with said link means being approximately in the same position when said panels are in either a folded or unfolded position.

`6. A hatch cover panel assembly for a hatchway formed in the deck of a ship, comprising a linkage for interconnecting the outboard panel of said panel assembly to a plurality of fixed hinge blocks mounted on said deck substantially below and laterally outwardly of said outboard panel, comprising a plurality of hinge arms secured to the outer end of said outboard panel, the opposite end of each of said hinge arms terminating relatively adjacent a respective hinge block, and a plurality of connecting links each of which is pivotally connected at one end to said respective hinge block and at its other end to the adjacent end of the associated hinge arm, the pivotal connections between said hinge arms and said links being spaced slightly above and laterally inward from the pivotal connections between said -links and said hinge blocks, said links during initial panel folding movement pivoting clockwise about said pivotal connections with said hinge blocks and during the latter stages of panel folding pivoting counterclockwise about said pivotal connections, the arrangement being such as to permit the lateral movement of said panel assembly during folding thereof par- -tially laterally outwardly relative to a vertical plane through said pivotal connection of said links to said hinge blocks to completely uncover said hatchway.

7. A ha-tch cover panel assembly for a hatchway formed in the deck of a ship, comprising a plurality of articulated panels supported by and movable `on track means positioned substantially above said deck and extending along both sides of said hatchway, said panel assembly being movable along said track means between an unfolded position covering said hatchway and a laterally outward, folded position completely uncovering said hatchway, means for folding said panels, fixed hinge means mounted on said deck laterally between the respective unfolded and folded positions of the outboard panel of said panel assembly, a pair of relatively long hinge arms mounted on the outer end of the outboard panel of said panel assembly at the respective sides thereof, the opposite end of each of said hinge arms when said outboard panel is in a horizontal, closed position terminating relatively adjacent said xed hinge means, and a pair of relatively short links interconnecting said hinge arms to said fixed hinge means, each of said links being pivotally connected at one end to the adjacent end of a respective hinge arm and at its other end to said iixed hinge means at a point substantially below said track means, the arrangement being such as to permit the lateral movement of said panel assembly during folding thereof partially laterally outwardly relative to a vertical plane through said pivotal connections of said links -to said hinge means to completely ulver said hatchway.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,932,272 4/ 1960 Beas 114-202 3,050,026 8/1962 Ligh 160-188 X 3,077,225 2/ 1963 Aarvold 114-202 X 3,114,346 12/1963 Dahln 160-188 X 3,190,637 6/1965 Kummerman 114-201 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,109,309 9/ 1955 France. 1,325,063 3/1963 France.

970,017 9/ 1964 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

7. A HATCH COVER PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR A HATCHWAY FORMED IN THE DECK OF A SHIP, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ARTICULATED PANELS SUPPORTED BY AND MOVABLE ON TRACK MEANS POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE SAID DECK AND EXTENDING ALONG BOTH SIDES OF SAID HATCHWAY, SAID PANEL ASSEMBLY BEING MOVABLE ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS BETWEEN AN UNFOLDED POSITION COVERING SAID HATCHWAY AND A LATERALLY OUTWARD, FOLDED POSITION COMPLETELY UNCOVERING SAID HATCHWAY, MEANS FOR FOLDING SAID PANELS, FIXED HINGE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID DECK LATERALLY BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE UNFOLDED AND FOLDED POSITIONS OF THE OUTBOARD PANEL OF SAID PANEL ASSEMBLY, A PAIR OF RELATIVELY LONG HINGE ARMS MOUNTED ON THE OUTER END OF THE OUTBOARD PANEL OF SAID PANEL ASSEMBLY AT THE RESPECTIVE SIDES THEREOF, THE OPPOSITE END OF EACH OF SAID HINGE ARMS WHEN SAID OUTBOARD PANEL IS IN A HORIZONTAL, CLOSED POSITION TERMINATING RELATIVELY ADJACENT SAID FIXED HINGE MEANS, AND A PAIR OF RELATIVELY SHORT LINKS INTERCONNECTING SAID HINGE ARMS TO SAID FIXED HINGE MEANS, EACH OF SAID LINKS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE ADJACENT END OF A RESPECTIVE HINGE ARM AND AT ITS OTHER END TO SAID FIXED HINGE MEANS AT A POINT SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID TRACK MEANS, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH AS TO PERMIT THE LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PANEL ASSEMBLY DURING FOLDING THEREOF PARTIALLY LATERALLY OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO A VERTICAL PLANE THROUGH SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS OF SAID LINKS TO SAID HINGE MEANS TO COMPLETELY UNCOVER SAID HATCHWAY. 